Table with Sugar Bowl 

Iwo Zaniewski’s painting, *Table with Sugar Bowl,* captures a simple still life with oil on canvas. Though seemingly traditional, the dark palette and minimalist composition invite us to consider the materiality and social context of even the most ordinary objects. The subdued tones emphasize the textures and forms, from the smooth, reflective surface of the table to the delicate curves of the sugar bowl and the woven pattern of the chair in the background. Oil paint, traditionally associated with fine art, is here used to depict everyday items, blurring the lines between high art and domestic craft. The application of paint is uneven, with visible brushstrokes that reveal the artist’s hand and the labor involved in creating the image. Zaniewski’s choice to focus on such a mundane scene prompts us to think about the social rituals around consumption and the role of objects in our daily lives. In this way, the painting transcends its subject matter, inviting reflection on the broader cultural and economic forces that shape our world.